Runaway snowmobile at Winter X Games crashes into crowd

Jan. 28, 2013
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Tucker Hibbert of the USA won a gold medal in the SnoCross during the Winter X Games Sunday. Later Sunday, during best trick competition, a snowmobile driven by Jackson Strong of Australia went out of control during a flip and crashed into a group of fans. One was injured. / Paul Bussi, USA TODAY Sports

by Rachel George, USA TODAY Sports

by Rachel George, USA TODAY Sports

ASPEN, Colo. - A young male spectator was evaluated by medical staff after a runaway snowmobile crashed into a group of fans at the X Games on Sunday night.

The fan hit his knee on a parked truck when his father pulled him out of the way of the snowmobile, an ESPN spokesman said. The boy was checked out and released to his father.

Australian Jackson Strong was attempting a backflip over his sled in the best trick competition when he got away from the snowmobile. Strong fell to the ground away from the snowmobile, which accelerated toward a fence lined with fans.

Jeremy Bester, of Prior Lake, Minn., was near the fence when the snowmobile crashed through it. He threw his 11-year-old son, Riley, out of the way.

"It really wasn't scary because we're around sleds all the time," said Bester, who added that he stopped the snowmobile.